Popovich vs. the Refs

Photo: Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts against the Miami Heat during the first half in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals on Sunday, June 15, 2014, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts against the Miami Heat during the first half in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals on Sunday, June 15, 2014, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Coach Greg Popovich gestures at the refs in the first half Friday, April 7, 2006 at the AT&T Center. Popovich was later hit with a technical foul.

Coach Greg Popovich gestures at the refs in the first half Friday, April 7, 2006 at the AT&T Center. Popovich was later hit with a technical foul.

Photo: BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Coach Greg Popovich gestures at the refs in the first half Friday,... Photo-4712186.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich argues a call during a NBA basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas on March 25, 2012.
John Albright / Special to the Express-News. less

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich argues a call during a NBA basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas on March 25, 2012.
John ... more

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks to his players during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in San Antonio. The Lakers won 98-84. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks to his players during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in San Antonio. The Lakers won 98-84. ... more

FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich yells instructions to the team against the Memphis Grizzlies during second half action Thursday April 12, 2012 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 107-97. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) less

FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich yells instructions to the team against the Memphis Grizzlies during second half action Thursday April 12, 2012 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 107-97. ... more

Greg Popovich makes a complaint about officiating to the ref in the second half as the Spurs play the Thunder in the opener of the NBA Western Conference finals at the AT&T Center on May 19, 2014.

Greg Popovich makes a complaint about officiating to the ref in the second half as the Spurs play the Thunder in the opener of the NBA Western Conference finals at the AT&T Center on May 19, 2014.

Photo: TOM REEL, San Antonio Express-News

Greg Popovich makes a complaint about officiating to the ref in the... Photo-6327595.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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Spurs coach Gregg Popovich debates a call with a game official during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the AT&T Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich debates a call with a game official during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the AT&T Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich debates a call with a game official... Photo-4582820.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich calls for a timeout during second half action of Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Utah Jazz Sunday April 29, 2012 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 106-91. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) less

FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich calls for a timeout during second half action of Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Utah Jazz Sunday April 29, 2012 at the AT&T ... more

SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich gets a technical foul during the second half of game one of the Western Conference first round at the AT&T Center, Sunday, April 29, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 106-91, to lead the series 1-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News less

SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich gets a technical foul during the second half of game one of the Western Conference first round at the AT&T Center, Sunday, April 29, 2012. The Spurs beat the ... more

Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich reacts after a play during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) less

Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich reacts after a play during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, ... more

Photo: EDWARD A. ORNELAS, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich reacts after a play during... Photo-4582823.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts to a call during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers in game one of the Western Conference semifinals at AT&T Center, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News less

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts to a call during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers in game one of the Western Conference semifinals at AT&T Center, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Jerry ... more

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures in the first half of game two of the Western Conference semifinals at the AT&T Center on Thursday, May 17, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures in the first half of game two of the Western Conference semifinals at the AT&T Center on Thursday, May 17, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures in the first half... Photo-4582825.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich calls for for a foul agaisnt Los Angeles Clippers DeAndre Jordan (06), late in the second half of game three of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 19, 2012. Spurs defeated the Clippers, 96-86. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News less

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich calls for for a foul agaisnt Los Angeles Clippers DeAndre Jordan (06), late in the second half of game three of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in ... more

Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich calls for for a foul... Photo-4582826.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks with referee Nick Buchert during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) less

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks with referee Nick Buchert during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP ... more

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich calls to his players during the third quarter of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich calls to his players during the third quarter of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, May ... more

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich argues with referee Bill Spooner (22) during the second half of Game 3 in their NBA basketball Western Conference finals playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, May 31, 2012, in Oklahoma City. The Thunder won 102-82. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich argues with referee Bill Spooner (22) during the second half of Game 3 in their NBA basketball Western Conference finals playoff series against the Oklahoma City ... more

SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich follows official James Williams before he is ejected during the second half against the New York Knicks at the AT&T Center, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. The Spurs won 118-105. In back is Assistant Coach Don Newman. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News less

SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich follows official James Williams before he is ejected during the second half against the New York Knicks at the AT&T Center, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. The ... more

The Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich has a confrontational discussion with Blane Reichelt, an NBA referee in the fourth quarter of game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals at the SBC Center in San Antonio on Tuesday, May 17, 2005. (Kin Man Hui/staff) less

The Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich has a confrontational discussion with Blane Reichelt, an NBA referee in the fourth quarter of game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals at the SBC Center in San Antonio on ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

The Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich has a confrontational... Photo-4582839.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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Gregg Popovich screams at the referees about the lack of foul calls for the Spurs during first quarter action game four NBA Finals on Thursday, June 16, 2005 at the Palace at Auburn Hills. Popovich received a technical foul. BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI/STAFF less

Gregg Popovich screams at the referees about the lack of foul calls for the Spurs during first quarter action game four NBA Finals on Thursday, June 16, 2005 at the Palace at Auburn Hills. Popovich received a ... more

Photo: Bahram Mark Sobhani, Express-News File Photo

Gregg Popovich screams at the referees about the lack of foul calls... Photo-4582840.61777 - San Antonio Express-News

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Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich reacts to a technical foul called against him as assistant coach Don Newman holds him back during first quarter action game four of the NBA Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills near Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday, June 14, 2005. (Kin Man Hui/staff) less

Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich reacts to a technical foul called against him as assistant coach Don Newman holds him back during first quarter action game four of the NBA Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills near ... more

Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich (right) argues a call with a referee against Sacramento Kings' in the first half of Game 6 of the first round of the 2006 NBA Western Conference playoffs at the Arco Arena in Sacramento on Friday, May 5, 2006. (Kin Man Hui/staff) less

Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich (right) argues a call with a referee against Sacramento Kings' in the first half of Game 6 of the first round of the 2006 NBA Western Conference playoffs at the Arco Arena in ... more

SPORTS --- The Spurs' Gregg Popovich, left, and Tim Duncan talk Tuesday night May 9, 2006 at the AT&T Center to the officials about a call during the second game of their Western Conference Semi-Finals match-up against the Dallas Mavericks. (BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI/STAFF) less

SPORTS --- The Spurs' Gregg Popovich, left, and Tim Duncan talk Tuesday night May 9, 2006 at the AT&T Center to the officials about a call during the second game of their Western Conference Semi-Finals ... more

SPORTS --- Coach Gregg Popovich and Michael Finley argue with ref Eddie Rush in the fourth quarter Tuesday night May 9, 2006 at the AT&T Center during the second game of their Western Conference Semi-Finals match-up. The Spurs lost 91-113. (BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI/STAFF) less

SPORTS --- Coach Gregg Popovich and Michael Finley argue with ref Eddie Rush in the fourth quarter Tuesday night May 9, 2006 at the AT&T Center during the second game of their Western Conference Semi-Finals ... more

The San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich confers with game official #16, Ted Bernhardt, who fans accused of missing calls against the Nets throughout the second half Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. (KAREN L. SHAW/STAFF) less

The San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich confers with game official #16, Ted Bernhardt, who fans accused of missing calls against the Nets throughout the second half Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002 at the ... more

SPORTS Spurs coach Greg Popovich expresses his displeasure with the officiating in the game against the Knicks Saturday night at the AT&T Center. SAN ANTONIO SPURS VERSUS NEW YORK KNICKS AT THE AT&T CENTER TOM REEL/STAFF NOVEMBER 11, 2006. less

SPORTS Spurs coach Greg Popovich expresses his displeasure with the officiating in the game against the Knicks Saturday night at the AT&T Center. SAN ANTONIO SPURS VERSUS NEW YORK KNICKS AT THE AT&T CENTER ... more